ATENOLOL (TenorminÃ‚Â®) belongs to a group of medicines called beta-blockers. Beta-blockers reduce the workload on the heart and help it to beat more regularly. Atenolol controls, but does not cure, high blood pressure (hypertension). Atenolol also relieves chest pain (angina), and can be helpful after a heart attack. Sometimes atenolol is used to help prevent migraine headaches.